Sensory Deprivation and EEG in Normal Subjects and in Depressive and Schizophrenic Patients with Special Reference to the Level of Consciousness

Abstract

Partial sensory deprivation for 4 to 6 hours were performed in 8 normal subjects, and in 6 depressive and 13 schizophrenic patients. Seven normal subjects showed gradual slowing of EEG, whereas 6 schizophrenics and 4 depressive patients showed fluctuating changes in their EEG's during sensory deprivation. The most sensitive EEG frequency band during sensory deprivation was the α band, particularly that around the 10 cycles per second waves in all subjects. The schizophrenics also showed marked changes in the wave region of 14 to 17 cycles per second. When analysis of the β band waves was made, neither depressive patients nor normal individuals showed any increase of fast α activities during sensory deprivation. On the other hand, 5 schizophrenics showed increase in the fast α activities. When comparison was made between EEG and mental symptoms during sensory deprivation, delusion and auditory hallucination tended to be associated with more frequent fast α activities, indicating an elevation of the level of conciousness. © 1970, Tohoku University Medical Press. All rights reserved.